1When Ephraim spoke, he was all nervous vibes, flexing in Israel; but when he messed up with Baal, he was done for, fr.

2Now they just keep sinning harder, making silver idols and crafting their own vibes, like, “Yo, let the ones who sacrifice show some love to the calves.”

3They’ll be like a morning cloud or early dew that just disappears, like chaff blown away by the wind, or smoke from a chimney, no cap.

4But I’m still the Lord your God from Egypt, and you better know there’s no other god but me; I’m the only savior, periodt.

5I knew you in the desert, in that dry, thirsty land, for real.

6They got full based on what they grazed on; they got too hyped and forgot about me, savage.

7So I’m coming at them like a lion, watching them like a leopard on the prowl.

8I’ll meet them like a bear without her cubs, ripping their hearts apart like a lion would; those wild beasts gonna tear them up.

9O Israel, you’ve messed yourself up; but I got your back, that’s where your help is at.

10I’ll be your king: where’s anyone else that can save you in all your towns? And your judges, remember when you said, “Give me a king and princes?”

11I gave you a king outta anger, then took him away when I was mad.

12Ephraim’s sin is all tied up; it’s hidden away, lowkey.

13The pain of a woman in labor is coming for him; he’s a foolish son; he shouldn’t chill where babies are born.

14I’ll snatch them from the grave’s power; I’ll redeem them from death: O death, I’ll be your plagues; O grave, I’ll be your destruction; I won’t look at repentance.

15Even if he’s thriving among his people, an east wind’s gonna blow; the Lord’s wind will hit from the wilderness, drying up his spring and fountain: he’ll lose all the dope treasures.

16Samaria’s gonna be empty; she rebelled against her God: they’ll fall by the sword; their babies will be crushed, and pregnant women will be ripped apart, no cap.

1When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

2And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

3Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

4Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

5I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

6According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

7Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

8I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

9O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.

10I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?

11I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.

12The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.

13The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.

14I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

15Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

16Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.